Chelsea Sign Didier Drogba – Why?

The last time we saw Chelsea legend Didier Drogba in a Chelsea shirt he was holding up the Champions League trophy after leading to Chelsea to victory over Bayern Munich. Drogba’s last kick as a Chelsea player was to score the winning penalty kick that night in Munich. Drogba left Chelsea as very few players have. On top of the world. His place as in Chelsea history assured for generations to come.

After a brief spell with Shanghai Shenhua, Drogba played for Galatasaray and even played against Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge last season.

But today Drogba rejoined Chelsea on a one-year contract because as he said:

“I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Jose [Mourinho] again. Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.

“My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career.”

Why would Mourinho want to a 36-year-old striker who is at least a couple of seasons past his best? Well Mourinho still thinks it is 2004 because he said this about signing Drogba:

“He’s coming because he’s one of the best strikers in Europe. I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he’s not protected by history or what he’s done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history.”

Sorry Jose but Didier Drogba is no longer one of the best strikers in Europe. He was. But that is no longer the case.

Drogba joins summer signing Diego Costa, Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku in the Chelsea squad, but it sounds like one of those will be leaving soon:

“We have three strikers at this moment. Normally one is coming, one is going. That is normal and logical.”

I just don’t get the signing based on what Chelsea need this season. Surely Torres and/or Lukaku will score more goals than Drogba this season given the same opportunities? It is a move that just does not make sense to me.